Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1887-07-02
CHI A P I E r X I.
dared u
ON TIE BRINK.

John found that tho life of South Afri-
can farmer came well up to his expectations.
He had ample occupatiou indeed, what be-
tween ostriches, horses, cattle, sheep and
crops, he was rather over than under occu-
pied Nor was he greatly troubled.by the
lack 9f ciyiii2e,t,Society,f for heSvas a Ysian
who read great DEAL and books couW be or
dered from Durham and Cape Town while
the weekly mail brought up an ample supply
of papers. On Sundays he always read the
political articles in The Saturday Review
aloud to old Silas Croft, who, as he got older,
found that the print tried his eyes, and this
was an attention that the old gentleman
greatly appreciated. He was q well informed
man, and had, notwithstanding bis long life
spent in a half civilized country, never lost
his hold of affairs or his interest in the wide
and rushing life of the world in one of whose
side eddies he lived apart. This task of reading
The Saturday Review aloud had formerly
been a part of Bessie's Sunday service, but
her uncle was very glad to effect an ex-
change. Bessie'S mind was not quite in tune
with the profundities Of that journal, and her
attention was apt to wander at the most
pointed passages. And thus it came about,
what between The Saturday Review and
other things, that a very warm and deep at
lSlCLiIeul SildilS up DGINlAG tuS OAu lildu dllu
his younger partner John was a very TAX
ing man, especially TO the old, for whom he
was never tired of performing little services.
One of his faVorite sayings was that old peo-
Pile should be "let down easy" and he acted
up to it. Moreover, there was quiet jollity
and bluff honesty about him which was un-
doubtedly attractive both to men and women.
But his great recommendation was that he
info al pn1 a,,I
gentleman in a country in which both were
rare. Every week the old man got to rely
more and more on him. and let things pass
more'and more into his hands,
"rm getting old, Mel" he said to him one
night; I'm getting very old; the grass
hopper is becoming burden to me, and I'll
tell you what it is, my boy" laying his hand
affectionately upon Johns shoulder, II have
no son of my own, and you will have to be a
son to me, as my dear Bessie has been a
daughter"
John looked up into the kindly, handsome
old face, crowned with the fringe of snowy
hair, and at the two keen eyes set deep in it
beneath tine overhanging eyebrows, and
thought of his old father who was long since
dead; and somehow he was moved and his
own eyes filed with tears.
"Ay, Mr.. Croft" he said, taking the old
mans hand, "that will to the best of nv
ability"
"Thank you, my boy, thank you. I don't
like talking much about these things, but as
said, am getting old, and the Almighty may
require my account any day, and if he does
rely on You to look after these two girls 1t
is a wild country this, and one never knows
what may happen in it from day to day, and
they will want it. Sometimes i wish were
clear of the place. And now I'm going to
bed / am beginning to feel as though had
done my days work in the world. I'm get
ting feeble, John, that is the fact of it,"
After that he always called him John.
OF Jess they heard but little She wrote
every week, it is true, and gave an accurate
account Of all that was going on at Pretoria
and of her daily doings, but she was one of
those people whose letters tell one absolutely
nothing of themselves and of what is passing
in their minds. They might as well have
been headed Our Pretoria Letter" as Bessie
said, disgustedly, after reading three sheets
in Jess curious, upright handwriting "Once
you lose sight of Jess" she went on, "she
might as well be dead for all you learn about
her Not that one learns very much when
she is with one," she added, reaectively.
"She is n peculiar woman," said John,
thoughtfully. AT fIst he had missed her
very much, for, peculiar as she undoubtedly
was, she had touched new string IN him
somewhere, of the existence Of which he had
not till then been himself aware. And what
is more, it had answered pretty strongly for
some time: but now it was slowly vibrating